Nature Versus Nature Influences on Human Behavior
The debate concerning the influence of nature versus nurture on human behavior has taken many turns and attract a wide range of scholars. The debate is centered on the contributions of genetic influences and environmental factors to human behavior. Some philosophers such as Descartes and Plato argued that most human behaviors occur naturally without environmental input. However, empiricists assume that the human mind is usually a tabula rasa, gradually filled with experiences from the environment. Many facts are surrounding each viewpoint have been previously put forward(Rettew, 2017). However, the input of both the environment and heredity cannot be overlooked. Human behavior can best be explained as the interaction between hereditary elements and experiences from the environment.
Some of the extreme nature positions previously taken by psychologists are such as Bowlby’s theory of attachment, which emphasizes the essence of the bond between the mother and the child (Zaky, 2015). The formation of this bond follows a natural course and is vital for survival and learning of behavior. In another study, Chomsky attests that the development of speech is enabled by the language acquisition device, giving credit to nature as the major influence of human behavior. On the other hand, perspectives such as the social learning theory by Bandura highlighted aggression as an example of behavior that is learned through observation and imitation from the environment (Levitt, 2013). From the premises of social learning, theory stemmed other scholars who reinforced the idea of the environment holding major influences on behavior acquisition.
However, a look at both sides may reveal the inadequacy evident on both sides of the argument. While some behaviors may be naturally present in people from a certain family line, they may be learned or unlearned through social interaction. For instance, the perfect pitch, which is the ability to detect the pitch of a musical tone without any reference, is an ability that is tied to a single gene. However, possession of the gene alone is not enough to develop this ability. Instead, this comes as an added advantage that can be perfected through musical training in childhood. The interplay between the inherited ability and training then paves the way for this behavior to manifest (Levitt, 2013).
The nature versus nurture debate has also taken turns by attempting to explain the prevalence of some conduct problems, mental disorders, and some prevalent diseases in some families. For instance, there have been arguments that heredity has significant input on mental illness and autism. However, there is solid evidence that autism, for instance, maybe caused by exposure to heavy toxic metals such as lead may play a causal role in the development of autism (Zaky, 2015). Mental disorders may also be attributed to a wide range of causes such as drug abuse or depression, which are a product of the environment. Similarly, children’s behavioral problems, such as internalizing behaviors, may be explained by examining the interaction between their genetics and development environments (Rettew, 2017).
In conclusion, there have been many attempts to explain the prevalence and development of human behavior. Given the many facts in both views, there would be no single ‘all or none view’ approach to the issue. A renewed perspective of examining the interplay between nature and the environment may be adequate in defining the extent by which each component influences human behavior. Since environmental interaction plays a major role in development and modeling behavior, even the naturally learned behavior can be corrected by exposing the children to the correct environments to adjust their behaviors. The question to be answered by the debate should concern how much each influences human behavior.
References
Zaky, E. A. (2015). Nature, nurture, and human behavior; an endless debate. Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior.
Levitt, M. (2013). Perceptions of nature, nurture and behaviour. Life Sciences, Society and Policy, 9(1), 13.
Rettew, D. (2017). Nature Versus Nurture: Where We Are in 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2020, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/abcs-child-psychiatry/201710/nature-versus-nurture-where-we-are-in-2017